Position guide and holder for pianos and automatic piano-players.



No. 718,558. PATENTED JAN. 13, 1903.

I F. 0. WHITE. POSITION GUIDE AND HOLDER FOR PIANOS AND AUTOMATIC PIANO PLAYERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1902.

' KO MODEL.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

FRANK C. NVHITE, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

POSITION GUIDE AND HOLDER FOR PIANOS AND AUTOMATIC PIANO-PLAYERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 718,558, dated January 13, 1903.

Application filed March 19, 1902. Serial No. 98,913. (No model.)

- and use the same.

This invention relates to means applicable to a piano key-bed for positioning and holding an automatic piano-player at the front of the piano in proper relation for playing the same, the objects being to provide a simple and convenient member that can be easily attached to any piano in right or left position as an indicating-guide for aid in readily placing or replacing the automatic pianoplayer in position in front of the piano, with its playing-finger in proper alinement for coacting with the piano-keys and for suitably retaining the piano-player in its true place relatively to the piano.

Another object is to provide a guide-arm for the purpose named which can be affixed to the piano key-bed in comparatively close adjacence to the leg or pilaster, retained at working position by an interlock, and by a shifting movement of the arm in relation to its supporting-pivot can be released to turn inward underneath the key-bed when the piano-player is removed from in front of the piano.

Another object is to provide aretractable positioning-guide for the purposes specified of such construction and form as will adapt it for use with a piano-player cabinet that extends at one or both ends to or beyond the pilaster or leg of the piano with which it is employed.

Another object is to provide a simple unitary positioning guide-arm of reversible structure adapted to be used at either end of the instrument iin right or left positions and for outside or inside support in relation to the piano-player cabinet or frame.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 represents an inverted horizontal sectional view of a piano key-bed and automatic piano-player cabinet, showing my invention as applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a bottom view representing an embodiment of my invention drawn on asomewhat-larger scale. Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing the edge of the guide-arm. Fig. 4 is a separate plan View of the guide-arm, and Fig. 5 illustrates the arrangement of the mechanism for holding upon the outside angle of a piano-player case.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 2 indicates the key-bed of an ordinary upright piano, and 3 the body casing or cabinet of an automatic piano-player of the character described in Letters Patent No. 592,641 or of similar class, wherein the piano-player is provided with a series of playing fingers or levers and automatic finger-operating mechanism supported in a cabinet or case adapted to be moved up to the front of the piano-manual, with the playing-fingers projecting over the manual-keys for operating the same.

According to my present invention the opare pivotally secured directly to the under face of the key-table at either end thereof, said guide-arms being in right and left arrangement for receiving and holding the respective ends of the piano-player instrument. The guide-arms are best made of reversible form, so that any one can be used in right or left position, and a description of one will accordingly apply to the other. This device or guide-arm 5 consists ,of a bar or plate, preferably of flat steel, about one-eighth of an inch, more orless, in thickness, which is provided with a longitudinal opening or slot 6 near its rear end and with a recess or stop-notch 7 and hook-shaped extremity 8 beyond said slot. The forward end of the guide-arm is shaped with an inward angle or receiving jaw-space 9, formed by an approximately transverse shoulder 10 and a forwardly-extendedprongl2,asindicated. The arm is best made with a bend or lateral inclination, as at 13, or with its front end porpositel'y-disposed positioning guide-arms 5 tion oifset in respect to the alinement of the rear portion, carrying the point of holding outward from the point of its attachment. For use the arms 5 are pivotally secured to the bottom of the piano key-bed, one at each end thereof, by a strong screw or fulcrumpivot 15, inserted through the slot 6 and screwed into'the key-bed 2, said screw being preferably provided with a broad head or washer 16. Rearward from the pivot-stud there is a second screw or stud 20, fixed in the key-bed'at proper position for engagement or interlocking with the stop notch or detent 7 when theparts are at position of adjustment with the arm projecting and the front end of the slot 6 against the pivot-screw 15. When properly combined with the keybed 2, the arrangement of the arms 5 is such that the sides of the piano-player case will just fit into the jaw-spaces 9 and against the shoulder 10, when the series of playing-fingers is in proper relative positions for actuating the manual-keys of the piano.

The guide-arm 5 as here constructed is a single reversible form or unitary piece of metal adapted-to be used either side uppermostin right or left position and at either end of the key-bed on any piano and to be attached thereto by its pivot 15. It is especially adapted for use at comparatively close adjacence to the inner face of the pilaster 22, so that its offsetting front end can receive and hold a piano-player case that extends beyond the inner face line of the pilasters or legs of the piano, while the arm can be readily turned back beneath the key-bed when the piano-player is removed by first swinging the arm to unlock the stop-notch 7 from the stud 20, drawing the arm forward, as per dotted lines 25, (see Fig. 2,) to shift its position in respect to the pivot and bring the rear end of the slot 6 to the'pivot, and then swinging the arm to the position indicated by dotted lines 27, the extremity 8 being by the longitudinal shift of the arm on its fulcrum-pivot permitted to turn without interfering with the pilaster.

When the stop-notch 7 is interlocked with the stud 20, the arm is held rigid laterally and against longitudinal movement, and the hold of the prong 12 upon the piano-player prevents the stop-notch from swinging off from the interlock-stud.

A suitable chafing-guard 23 may be attached to the edges of the piano-player casing on the parts which contact with the guidearms.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A guide-arm for holding an automatic piano-player in position in front of a piano, consisting of a flat plate-metal bar, its body inclinedly offset laterally, its front end fitted with an inward angular jaw-space, its rear portion fitted with a side recess and hooked extremity, and having a longitudinal slot that extends approximately from the offset to near the recessed end, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a piano key-bed, a positioning guide-arm pivotally secured thereto adjacent to the inner face of the pilaster, and adapted to swing from and beneath the key-bed, said guide-arm provided with a reeeivingjaw-space and a seating-shoulder, and having a bend orlaterally-inclined offset, substantially as described, that brings its fore end with the receiving jaw-space and seatingshoulder when in outward position, past the inner line of the pilaster to receive and hold a piano-player, the body or casing of which extends beyond the inner face line of the pilaster or leg of the-piano.

3. A positioning-guide for holding an automatic piano-player at the front of a piano, comprising an arm having its end fitted for engaging the piano-player casing, an attaching-screw pivotally supporting said arm on the key-bed adjacent to the pilaster or leg of the piano,a stop-stud for limiting the outward swing of the arm, and means thatpermits the shifting of the arm endwise in relation to its pivot, to allow said arm to release to pass said limiting-stop, and to swing back underneath the key-bed without contact with the pilaster or leg of the piano.

4:. A positioning-guide for holding an automatic piano-player in position in front of a piano, comprising an arm having a longitudinal slot, a lateral notch or detent at its rear end, and a jaw-space at its front end for engagement with the piano-player instrument, a pivot passing through said slot securing said arm to the piano key-bed as a fulcrum, and a second screw or stud adapted for engaging said notch as a stop when the guidearm is at holding position.

5. A positioning-guide for holding an automatic piano-player at the front ofapiano, consisting of an arm formed in a single piece and having a jaw-space with a seating-shoulder and bearing projection at its front end, a pivot-opening, a stop-notch at its rear part, and an intermediate offset or lateral bend in its length, said arm adapted to be pivoted, in either right or left position to the key-bed of a piano, substantially as set forth.

6. A reversible guide-arm for holding an automatic piano-player in position in front of a piano, consisting of a fiat metal arm having at one enda receiving-jaw with a shoulder and bearing-prong adapted to abut on the corner of the piano-player casing, a pivot-receiving slot, and a stop-notch at its other end; said guide-arm adapted for connection to the piano key-bed with either side uppermost, by a pivot-screw through said slot, and for bearing on the piano-player at either outside or inside of its casing.

7. In combination with a piano key-bed, a pair of right and left guiding and holding arms having means for engaging the frame'or casing of a piano-player, a pivot connecting each arm to the key-bed, and an interlocking stop that prevents endwise movement of the arm while the piano-player is in playing position, but releasable when the piano-player is away; said arm being longitudinally movable on its pivot and adapted to turn back beneath the key-bed When the interlock is released, by

first shifting the position of said arm longitudinally in relation to its pivot, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 17th day of March,

FRANK 0. WHITE. Witnesses:

F. E. BEMIS, S. R. HARCOURT. 

